Southern Whitley County teens injured in ATV crash

Two teens were seriously injured Sunday night in a four-wheeler accident in southern Whitley County, and police are still trying to determine what caused the crash.

According to Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Foley, Jared Tindle and Cody Petrey, both 16, were airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville to be treated for injuries after the crash.

The accident was reported on Keswick Road, off Kentucky 1804 and near Fate Lane at about 11:30 p.m. Foley said the two boys had been fishing earlier in the day, and stopped at one of their homes to eat dinner, and were traveling to the other’s residence when the crash occurred.

"It doesn’t appear they were doing anything out of the way," Foley said. "One lost control and it appears after that the other was trying to avoid the first … We are still trying to piece together what exactly happened. I don’t think they were hotrodding or anything like that."

Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Lawson, who assisted at the scene with the investigation, said he is a close personal friend of the families and that both are still recovering at the UT Medical Center as of press time Tuesday. He said Petrey remains in critical care with swelling in his brain, a broken collarbone and a severe laceration to his left ear. He is in a medically induced coma.

"The doctors said the next 72 hours are critical," Lawson said. "He is showing some very good signs, though."

Tindle suffered two fractures to bones in one of his legs, a severe cut to the head and other injuries. He is able to talk to family and friends. Lawson said Tindle does not remember how the accident happened.

"I’ve known these boys all my life. They are best friends. They love hunting and fishing and that is about all they do when they are not in school," he said. "They never get out and do a bunch of horseplay. It was just freak accident."

Foley said both Tindle and Petrey were being treated by Whitley County EMS when he arrived on the scene, but it did not appear that either was wearing any protective equipment while riding the ATVs. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol was a factor in the crash.

It is generally illegal to ride ATVs on a public roadway, with some exceptions. Foley said he is uncertain at this point whether either of the two will be cited.

"I’m going to work with the Sheriff on that. I need to see what he thinks is best."

Foley was assisted at the scene by Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputies Alan Onkst, Brett Reeves, Whitley County EMS and the South Whitley Fire Department.